Fence-making machine



(No Model.) n

w. J. BOWEN. FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

No. 562,452'. Patented June z3, 1896.

l 'H L Illlllllll HUIIIII UNITED STATES i PATENT OEEIcE.

WILLIAM J. BOVEN, OF NORWALK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN P. SOHILTZ, OFFAIRFIELD, IIURON COUNTY, OHIO.`

FENCE-MAKING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 562,452, dated June 23,1896. Application filed September '7, 1895. Serial No. 561,723. (Nomodell) To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, WILLAM J. BOWEN, a citizen of the United-States,residing at Norwalk, in the` county of I-Iuron and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Making Machines;and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription'of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a portable machine for constructing the sort ofwire fences which consist of horizontal strands of wire united atintervals by vertical stays or pickets made of two strands of wiretwisted together for the purpose of strengthening them and holding thehorizontal wires in xed relation to each other, substantially as shownin Figure l. Heretofore when fences of this character have been made inthe field the two wires for the stay have been placed on opposite sidesof the horizontal wires and then twisted together by a wrench or otherhand-tool. The object of the machine embodying my -invention is tocheaply and quickly twist such stays, thereby locking them upon thehorizontal wires, and to hold said horizontal wires at any desireddistance apart during the twisting operation.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of partshereinafter described, and pointed out definitely in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is an elevation of a machine embodying myinvention in position for twisting the stays. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofone of the brackets and the mechanism carried thereby. Fig. 3 is avertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a sectional viewon line 4 4 of Fig. 2, viewed from the right.

Referring to the parts by letters, A represents a post for supportingthe horizontal brackets B and parts carried thereby. This post may be ofany suitable size and shape and maybe made of any suitable material.

The brackets B, of which there may be any number, are provided each witha sleeve b, which embraces the post and is fixed at any elevationthereon by a set-screw h or other suitable means. A vertical shaft O isjournaled in the several brackets, and suitable means are provided, as,for example, thecrank o, for turning said shaft.

J ust above each bracket is a pinion D, which surrounds and is'fastenedto the shaft by any suitable means.

E represents a twisting-gear having on its under side a cylindrical hube, which is journaled in a cylindrical hole or journal-box b4, formed inthe outer part of the bracket B. This gear rests upon the bracket and isin mesh with pinion D. A vertical slot, a little wider than the diameterof the wire to be used for the stays, is cut in this gear and hubextending from the outer edge to a point a little past the axis. Avertical slot 621s likewise formed in the bracket, through the journal-box h4, to permit the stay-wires to enter the slot in the gear E.

On one side of each sleeve h is a vertical rib bf', `in which is cut oneor more horizontal grooves b3, the function of which is to receive thehorizontal wires and hold them in iiXed relation to each other while thestays are being twisted.

To use the above-described machine, the horizontal wires are firststrung between the fence-posts. The brackets are then adj usted upon thepost A so that each of the-gears `F. will be about midway between twoadjacent horizontal wires. The two wires for the stays are then placedon opposite sides of the horizontal wires, and passed through the slotsin the gears E and their boxes. The horizontal wires are caused to enterthe slots b3, and then the shaft O isturned by the means provided forthis purpose. This causes the gears E to revolve, and they twist thestay-wires as much as is desired, and substantially as shown, whereuponthe brackets and gears E are withdrawn from the twisted stay. The endsof the stay-wires are preferably twisted around the upper and lowerhorizontal fencewires to complete the stays.

It is often desirable that some of the horizontal wires (generally thelower ones) lie closer together than others; but in such cases (asin allcases) it is desirable to have the stay-wires twisted to an equaldegree. To effect this result with the mechanism hereto- IOO foredescribed,the gears E and pinion D may be made relatively of differentsizes. For example, when any tWo horizontal Wires are nearer thancommon, the gear E on the interposed bracket should be larger and thedrivin g-pinion smaller than the others-,Whereby the twistinggear E Willbe revolved a proportionately smaller number of times.

Having described my invention, I claim- '1. In a fence-making machine,the combination of a post, and a series of brackets each having a sleeveWhich embraces and is adjustable upon said post, and a slotted jou-r-fnal-box, with a series of twisting-gears each y having a hub which ismounted in one of said journal-boxes, and having a slot extending' fromthey edge: in past the axis of said gears j and hub, a shaft mounted insaid brackets,

and pinions adjustably secured to said shaft, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

2. In a portable fence-making machine, in combination, asupporting-post, a series of brackets each having a sleeve Whichembraces l and is adjustable upon said post, and a transverse groove inthe side of said sleeve, a g slotted journal-box formed in each bracket,twisting-gears mounted in said journal-boxes, each having' a slot Whichextends from its outer edge to past its axis, a driving-shaft journaledin said brackets, and pinions secured thereto in mesh With saidtwistinggears, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof l afx my signature in presence of tWo` Witnesses.

WILLIAM J. BOVEN. i Vitnessesf WM. C.. PENFIELD,

E. G.. BoUGHToN.

